Suture having a restraining element at an end and method and use thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9533446-B2
Application number	US-201514967814-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2015
Priority date	Oct 21, 2014
Publication date	Jan 3, 2017
Grant date	Jan 3, 2017

Abstract

Polymeric fibers, and apparatuses for and methods of processing such fibers to be useful as sutures, where at least one end of a fiber includes a termination feature. The termination feature is formed through the application of energy to a coiled region of the fiber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of forming a suture comprising the steps of:
a. winding a second end of a length of suture material, said suture having a first end and second end and a length therebetween, about a winding pin to form a coil, such that the coil does not become entangled, wherein the winding pin includes:
i. a first cylindrical component having a central axis defining an open interior, the open interior being defined by a side wall and terminating in an open end, the first cylindrical component having a slot extending through the side wall extending from the open end to a termination point axially offset from the open end; and
ii. a second cylindrical component having a central axis defining an at least partially open interior, the open interior being defined by a side wall and terminating in an open end, the second cylindrical component having a slot extending through the side wall extending from the open end to a termination point axially offset from the open end;
the first and second cylindrical components being in concentric configuration with each other, wherein the first and second cylindrical components may be independently rotated with respect to each other;

b. subjecting said coiled second end to application of energy, said energy being sufficient to melt at least a portion of said coiled second end and form a solid unitary termination feature.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the slot on the first cylindrical component has a first axial configuration and the slot on the second cylindrical component has a second axial configuration, where the first axial configuration is different than the second axial configuration.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first axial configuration of the slot on the first cylindrical component includes at least a portion of the slot on the first cylindrical component moves in a substantially straight line parallel to the central axis of the first cylindrical component.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the second axial configuration of the slot on the second cylindrical component includes the slot on the second cylindrical component being a curvilinear line extending from the open end of the second cylindrical component to the end point on the second cylindrical component.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein when the first cylindrical component and second cylindrical component are in a first configuration, the slot at the open end of the first cylindrical component and the slot at the open end of the second cylindrical component are aligned with each other, creating an open passageway at the open ends of the first and second cylindrical components.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein when the first cylindrical component and second cylindrical component are in a second configuration, the slot at the open end of the first cylindrical component and the slot at the open end of the second cylindrical component are not aligned with each other, thereby creating a closed passageway at the open ends of the first and second cylindrical components and an open passageway between the first and second cylindrical components at a position axially offset from the open ends of the first and second cylindrical components.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said winding step is caused by rotation of said winding pin while the second end of the suture extends from the open passageway between the first and second cylindrical components at a position axially offset from the open ends of the first and second cylindrical components.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the coil remains around the outside of the winding pin during said step of forming the termination feature.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the winding pin is retracted prior to the step of forming the termination feature.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said termination feature has a cross section selected from the group consisting of circular, rectangular and square shaped.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the diameter of said termination feature is substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the suture.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the diameter of said termination feature is substantially parallel to the central axis of the suture.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the diameter of the termination feature to the largest cross-sectional diameter of the suture is from about 1.1:1 to about 10:1.

14. An apparatus for forming a suture having a termination feature comprising:
a. a welding horn having a welding tip;
b. a welding die having an open interior sized to be similar to the welding tip;
c. a winding pin, wherein the winding pin includes:
i. a first cylindrical component having a central axis defining an open interior, the open interior being defined by a side wall and terminating in an open end, the first cylindrical component having a slot extending through the side wall extending from the open end to a termination point axially offset from the open end; and
ii. a second cylindrical component having a central axis defining an at least partially open interior, the open interior being defined by a side wall and terminating in an open end, the second cylindrical component having a slot extending through the side wall extending from the open end to a termination point axially offset from the open end;
the first and second cylindrical components being in concentric configuration with each other, wherein the first and second cylindrical components may be independently rotated with respect to each other.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the slot on the first cylindrical component has a first axial configuration and the slot on the second cylindrical component has a second axial configuration, where the first axial configuration is different than the second axial configuration.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first axial configuration of the slot on the first cylindrical component includes at least a portion of the slot on the first cylindrical component moves in a substantially straight line parallel to the central axis of the first cylindrical component.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the second axial configuration of the slot on the second cylindrical component includes the slot on the second cylindrical component being a curvilinear line extending from the open end of the second cylindrical component to the end point on the second cylindrical component.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein when the first cylindrical component and second cylindrical component are in a first configuration, the slot at the open end of the first cylindrical component and the slot at the open end of the second cylindrical component are aligned with each other, creating an open passageway at the open ends of the first and second cylindrical components.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein when the first cylindrical component and second cylindrical component are in a second configuration, the slot at the open end of the first cylindrical component and the slot at the open end of the second cylindrical component are not aligned with each other, thereby creating a closed passageway at the open ends of the first and second cylindrical components.

20. A method of forming a termination feature on a suture comprising the steps of:
a. placing a distal end of an elongated suture into a welding die, the welding die including an elastic element beneath the welding die;
b. moving at least one of the welding die or a welding horn such that the welding die and welding horn are engage

Assignees

• Ethicon Llc
• Ethicon Inc

Inventors

• Rousseau Robert A

Classifications

• A61B2017/0619

  thermoplastic, e.g. for bonding, welding, fusing or cutting the suture by melting it · CPC title

• A61B2017/06176

  with protrusions, e.g. barbs · CPC title

• B29L2031/753

  Medical equipment; Accessories therefor (bloodbags, medical bags B29L2031/7148; artificial eyes B29L2011/0008) · CPC title

• A61B17/06166

  Sutures (suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M) · CPC title

• A61B2017/00526

  Methods of manufacturing · CPC title